The Supercar Registry - 1970 'Cuda information

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- - 1970 'Cuda information (https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=168087)

LOL. I may transisiton back. Since my boy got his 2014 Camaro a few weeks ago I have really come to appreciate the 5th gen Camaros. Both the wife and I want to borrow his car. I may even try to find a nice 5th Gen ZL1 (in Blue Ray just like my sons car, or maybe yellow).

:-)

I recommend you drive a 4 speed e body before you buy one. The mopars with the short pistol grip shifter can be challenging to shift at higher rpms.

Kind of like the 1967/68 Camaro with the factory shifter?....Joe

Quote:

Originally Posted by X66 714 (Post 1556107)

Not transitioning. Still love the Chevies. In 1974, when I was looking for my 1st car to buy, there were 3 1970s for sale. A hemi automatic car that was 1,300.00, A tripple green AAR for 2,000 & a double green 318 4spd car for 1,500.00. The problem then was insurance was 1,200 a year. Just put it on the back burner but never stopped thinking about. 1st car was a 65 Malibu ss327 4spd.
So often I see people wanting to buy cars & not have a clue what they're doing. I wanted to learn about the 1970 cuda before I did my official search. The information that's been provided to me will get me going in the right direction. I did a 1970 Mach 1 for what would be my future ex-wife some years ago & I had to learn on the go. I don't want to do that again. I don't want to be an expert....just want to have a brief understanding of the cars...Joe

I remember looking at Mopars especially 70-74 Barracudas in the late 80s, they were always more than Chevys, probably part of the reason I became a Camaro guy.

There were probably about the same 69 z28s produced than there were ALL 70 and 71 cudas combined. And 70 production was 4 to 1 that of 71

The Chrysler A-833 gearbox (both 23 spline for the small blocks and 18 spline - for most big blocks and all hemis) are noisy and chunky-shifting like an M-22.

When I first got my 72 T/A and found out what an M-22 sounded like, I said to myself: "This whiney M22 noise is what all the fuss was about??? - it sounds just like the trans in every Mopar I've ever owned." :-)

I actually find the Hurst pistol grip to be the most ergonomicly designed shifter handles ever made. It more than makes up for the crunchy-shifting A833 gearbox when you can use all the muscles in your arm to shift instead of just half of them like when you have to shift a traditional shifter knob from the top.

Quote:

Originally Posted by X66 714 (Post 1556141)

Kind of like the 1967/68 Camaro with the factory shifter?....Joe

No, the e body pistol grip shifter is not sloppy or weak. It's not long enough to apply enough leverage to engage the gear.

The only caution I provide people who have a lifelong association with GM cars and then buy a 1970-71 E-body Mopar is about the interior - it is cheap, it is made with a S*#T TON of HARD plastic and it squeaks, creaks and cracks. The extra money GM spent on softer vinyls and cushioned plastics is noticeable when you ride around in a Cuda or Challenger on a regular basis. I have had 5 or 6 'Cudas, all the same complaint. The B-body Mopars I have owned (GTX, Super Bee) were much, much better because there is more exposed metal (painted) in the B-body's interior. My Chevelles and GTOs, Trans Am and Camaro interiors were cocoon-like compared to my Cudas. But you gotta get used to it because, man, they are SUPER-COOL cars.